Intelligent control for wind energy conversion systems

Abstract

Robust controllers in Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) are essential not only for maximizing energy and ensuring reliable operation but also for maintaining high quality electric power generation. This paper investigates the possibility of using intelligent controllers in WECS. The proposed technique uses fuzzy logic for voltage and power regulation, and neural networks both to control the blade pitch of the turbine and to predict the turbine aerodynamics. The system itself is composed of a variable pitch, two-bladed, horizontal axis wind turbine coupled via a three step gearbox to a synchronous generator. The latter feeds the grid via a bridge rectifier, which is a part of an ac/dc/ac converter. The complete set of differential equations describing the system is derived and simulated together with the proposed controllers to predict the system performance and assess the validity of the model.